WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Thomas E. (Preacher Tom) Patterson, 63, of Stugis, died Oct. 20, 2009, at his home following an extended illness.
He was born Sept. 21, 1946, in Three Rivers, a son of Thomas Eugene and Kathryn I. (Johnson) Patterson.
He was a Sturgis resident for the first 20 years of his life, then living in Alabama and Tennessee.
He returned to Sturgis in 1986.
On Oct. 26, 1991, he married Martha Marie (Sue) McClain in Sturgis.
He was a truck driver most of his life and was employed by Viking in Centreville for 15 years. He also was employed by Grumman Olson and Syndicate companies and was a U.S. Army Airborne veteran.
He was a board member of the Sturgis Toy Run and an avid biker.
Surviving are his wife, Martha (Sue) Patterson of Sturgis; four children, Thomas E. Patterson III of Lake Tahoe, Nev., Tamara (Tami) Kulp of Kalamazoo, Christopher Bailey and Patricia (Thomas) Bailey, both of Hartselle, Ala.; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a stepdaughter, Kari Lenon of Sturgis; a stepson, Scott (Robin) Lenon of Hawaii; three borthers, John (Regenna) Patterson of Viro Beach, Fla., Stanley (Rebecca) Patterson of Gobles, Mich., and Boyd Roberts of Sturgis; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Patricia Jaurez.
There will be no visitation. Services are at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Sturgis Evangelical Church with Pastor Rodger Moyer and Pastor Stephen Wisler officating. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemtery, Sturgis.
Arrangements were handled by the Farrand Funeral Home of White Pigeon. Memorials may be directed to the family. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.
